LTA Advantage Wimbledon Ballot 2026: Results, Buying Tickets & Resale Guide
The wait is finally over. As of late November 2025, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has officially begun the notification process for the 2026 Championships. If you are one of the thousands of British tennis fans refreshing your inbox, you know the stakes are high.
With the Championships scheduled for June 29 – July 12, 2026, demand has once again outstripped supply. But getting that initial email is just the first step. Whether you have just received a “Success” notification, a “Unsuccessful” email, or absolutely nothing at all, specific actions are required right now to secure your place at SW19.
This guide cuts through the noise. We will cover how to confirm your LTA Advantage Wimbledon Ballot 2026 status, the critical 14-day payment window that catches many people out, and the “Second Chance” resale strategy for those who didn’t win in the first round.
Ballot Status: Has the 2026 Draw Happened Yet?
Yes, the draw is underway. The LTA officially closed the “Opt In” window on August 31, 2025. After months of sorting eligible entrants, the automated ballot system has started assigning tickets.
When Are Success Emails Sent?
Official notifications began rolling out on November 24, 2025. However, it is crucial to understand that the LTA does not email everyone simultaneously. This is a common misconception that leads to unnecessary panic.
The ballot results are released in waves.
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Wave 1 (Super Ballot): Usually covers Centre Court and No.1 Court tickets for the finals weekend. These went out first.
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Wave 2 (Standard Ballot): Covers Show Courts for the first week and middle weekend.
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Wave 3 (Ongoing): As people decline tickets or fail to pay, those tickets are re-allocated. This process continues through December and into early 2026.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t received an email by December 1st, do not assume you have been unsuccessful. The “Unsuccessful” notifications usually go out after the initial winners have been contacted to prevent server crashes.
How to Check Your Status on the LTA Portal
Do not rely solely on email notifications. Spam filters are notorious for blocking LTA correspondence, especially for users with Hotmail or Yahoo accounts. The only 100% accurate way to know your standing is to check the portal directly.
Follow these steps immediately:
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Go to the LTA Official Website.
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Log in using your LTA Advantage credentials.
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Navigate to the “My Benefits” section.
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Look for the “Wimbledon Ballot” tab.
Status Meanings:
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“Ticket Offer Pending”: Congratulations! You have won. You must act immediately.
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“Ballot Entered”: The system is still processing, or you are on a waitlist for re-allocated tickets.
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“Unsuccessful”: You did not win in the main draw. (See the “Second Chance Resale” section below).
I Won! How to Buy Your Wimbledon 2026 Tickets
Securing the email is only half the battle. You must now complete the purchase transaction. The LTA and All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) are incredibly strict regarding deadlines.
The 14-Day Payment Window Rule
This is where many winners lose their tickets. From the moment the “Success” email is sent (or the status changes in your portal), you have exactly 14 days to pay for your tickets.
There are no exceptions. If you are on holiday, if your internet is down, or if you simply forget, the tickets are stripped from your account on Day 15 and thrown back into the resale pot.
Action Item: Set a reminder on your phone for 24 hours before your deadline. Do not wait until the last minute—payment portals can and do crash under heavy load.
How to Assign Your Guest Ticket
Winners are typically offered a pair of tickets. You cannot buy just one and leave the other; you buy the pair. However, strictly adhering to AELTC anti-touting rules, you must assign the second ticket.
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The Main Ticket: This is yours. It will be linked to your myWimbledon account.
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The Guest Ticket: You must assign this to a friend or family member.
Crucial Note: Your guest does not need to be an LTA Advantage member. However, they do need a free myWimbledon account. To save time during checkout, ask your intended guest to create their account on Wimbledon.com now so you have their email address ready to link.
Accepted Payment Methods (Avoid Declines)
When you reach the checkout, the system will redirect you to the official AELTC ticketing gateway.
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Accepted: American Express, Visa, Mastercard.
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Not Accepted: Cheques, Bank Transfers, PayPal.
Expert Warning: Many users have their credit card details saved in their browser autofill. Check the expiry date. If your card expires before June 2026, the system may flag it. It is safer to enter card details manually to ensure accuracy. If your bank declines the transaction as “suspicious activity” (common with high-value ticket purchases), you might lose your cart session. Alert your bank beforehand if you are worried.
Unsuccessful? The “Second Chance” Resale Explained
If your portal says “Unsuccessful,” do not despair. You are now eligible for the LTA Advantage Resale, often referred to as the “Second Chance Ballot.”
What is the LTA Ballot Resale?
This is a private ticket sale exclusively for LTA members who:
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Opted into the ballot by August 31, 2025.
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Did not win tickets in the main draw.
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Did not purchase tickets in any previous wave.
This is not the same as the public Ticketmaster resale or “The Queue.” This is a closed ecosystem with much better odds than the general public faces.
Projected Dates for the 2026 Resale
While the LTA has not published the exact date, historical data allows us to forecast effectively.
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2024 Cycle: Resale opened in Spring.
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2025 Cycle: Resale opened in Spring.
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2026 Forecast: Expect the resale notification email in late March or April 2026.
How to Secure Tickets in the Resale (The 10 AM Rule)
Unlike the main ballot, the resale is first-come, first-served. This is a race.
Our Experience-Based Strategy:
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The Notification: You will receive an email 24-48 hours before the resale platform opens, announcing the specific date and time (usually 10:00 AM).
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The Login: Log in to the resale portal at 9:45 AM. Do not wait until 10:00 AM.
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The Refresh Game: At 10:00 AM, tickets appear. They will disappear into carts instantly. If you see “Currently Unavailable,” keep refreshing. Carts time out after 10 minutes. Tickets will pop back up at 10:11 AM, 10:12 AM, etc., as other users fail to pay.
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Flexibility: You cannot choose specific seats. You will see “Centre Court, Pair, £X.” Grab whatever you see. You can always decline after it is in your cart, but you cannot browse at leisure.
LTA Membership Tiers: Who Was Eligible?
A common reason fans find themselves ineligible for the ballot is confusion over membership tiers. The LTA restructured this recently, and the free tier no longer grants ballot access.
Fan+, Play+, and Compete Explained
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LTA Fan (Free): This tier is not eligible for the Wimbledon ballot. If you were on this tier during the Opt-In window, you were excluded.
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LTA Fan+ (£20/year): The entry-level paid tier. Fully eligible for the ballot.
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LTA Play+ & Compete: Higher tiers for active players and coaches. Fully eligible.
Preparing for the 2027 Cycle
If you missed out this year because you were on the free “Fan” tier, upgrade to Fan+ immediately. While it won’t get you into the 2026 draw, it ensures your account history is active and ready for the 2027 Opt-In window, which will open in roughly July 2026.
Wimbledon 2026: Key Dates & Estimated Prices
Planning your trip requires knowing when to go and how much to budget.
Tournament Dates: Monday, June 29 – Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Ticket Price Guide (Show Courts vs. Grounds)
It is vital to distinguish between Debenture Tickets (which cost thousands and are sold on the secondary market) and Ballot Tickets (which are price-capped). The prices below are estimates based on the 2025 inflation-adjusted figures.
| Court | Early Rounds (Week 1) | Middle Weekend | Finals (Week 2) |
| Centre Court | £90 – £130 | £160 – £210 | £275 – £315 |
| No.1 Court | £60 – £110 | £140 – £180 | £190 – £200 |
| No.2 Court | £50 – £90 | £100 – £120 | N/A (Grounds) |
| Grounds Pass | £30 – £35 | £35 – £40 | £20 – £25 |
Note: Grounds Passes allow access to Courts 3-18 and “The Hill,” but not the main show courts.
FAQs
When do Wimbledon 2026 ballot results come out?
The first wave of notifications began on November 24, 2025. Notifications continue in waves through December and into early 2026 as tickets are re-allocated.
Can I resell my LTA Wimbledon tickets if I can’t go?
Strictly, no. Tickets are non-transferable and cannot be sold on sites like Viagogo or StubHub. If you cannot attend, you must return them to the LTA/AELTC for a refund. They will then be re-sold officially.
What happens if I miss the 14-day payment deadline?
You lose the tickets. The offer expires automatically, and the tickets are assigned to the next person in the ballot queue. There is no appeal process for missed deadlines.
Is the LTA resale different from the public ballot resale?
Yes. The LTA resale is exclusively for LTA members who were unsuccessful in the LTA ballot. It usually has better availability than the general public resale.
Can I change my guest after purchasing the ticket?
Yes. You can usually re-assign the guest ticket via the myWimbledon app up until the day before the event. However, the main ticket holder (you) cannot change.
How much are Centre Court tickets for 2026?
Expect to pay between £90 for early rounds up to £315 for Finals weekend.
Why haven’t I received an email from the LTA yet?
You may be in a later “wave,” or the email may be in your spam folder. Always log in to the LTA website to check your status manually.
Can I transfer my ticket to a family member?
Generally, no. The lead booker must attend. You cannot give your ticket to a family member if you are not also going, unless you utilize the official refund/resale procedures.
Final Thoughts
The LTA Advantage Wimbledon Ballot 2026 is a game of patience and precision. If you have secured tickets, double-check your payment status today. If you are still waiting, keep an eye on that portal, silence often means you are still on the reserve list.
And remember, a “No” today isn’t a “No” forever. The Spring resale is where the most dedicated fans often secure the best seats in the house. Keep your membership active, watch your inbox in March, and be ready to move fast.
Next Step for You:
Would you like me to draft a specific email template you can use to send to your guest explaining how they need to create a myWimbledon account to accept their ticket?